Figure 2.

EVs are generated through the endosomal pathway. Once the early endosome is formed, ILVs are packaged with proteins destined for degradation, nucleic acids, and other signaling molecules. Once the cargo is tagged for degradation, an endolysosome is formed and will proceed to lysosomal degradation. In some cases, the ILVs are released during MVB-PM fusion and are consequently released as exosomes. In some cases, lysosomal cargo containing ILVs can also release exosomes through lysosomal exocytosis. Lysosomes are also involved in protein degradation through autophagy, mitophagy and mitochondria derived vesicles (MDVs). MDVs, unlike MVBs, are targeted for peroxisomal cargo degradation.